The King of Jordan, Abdallah II, will arrive in Greece on Wednesday for a two-day working visit, following an invitation by President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias. Abdallah will be accompanied by his wife, Queen Rania.
Following a meeting with Papoulias, the Jordanian monarch will lead his country's delegation at a signing ceremony for two agreements, one centring on tourism cooperation and the other for protection of investments.

According to a tentative itinerary, Papoulias will host a working breakfast for the Jordanian royal couple on Wednesday, whereas Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyanni will bestow on Abdallah the municipality's Gold Medallion of the City of Athens in the afternoon.

I think this is the first time Rania has accompanied Abdullah on a foreign visit in a while?

Humera

12-20-2005 08:33 PM

yes since their trip to the US this past September.
Im looking forward to seeing pictures from this trip. There was a record number of pictures of sad events (funerals, memorials etc) this year, not to mention endless conferences and summits. Oh and lets not forget the postponed state visit to the Netherlands.
I'd give anything to see a little more glamour. There's still more than a week left in 2005, Im still hopefull.

Little_star

12-21-2005 09:12 AM

King, Queen Arrive in Athens</STRONG>

Pet0151 4 0302 King, Queen Arrive in Athens Athens, Dec. 21 (Petra)--Their Majesties King Abdullah II and Queen Rania Al Abdullah arrived in Athens on Wednesday on a two-day visit to Greece. His Majesty will hold talks with the Greek President Karlos Papoulias and the Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis on bilateral ties and ways of promoting them, particularly in the trade and economic fields. The talks are also expected to focus on the situation in the Middle East and efforts being exerted to achieve peace in the region. Jordan and Greece are expected to sign during the visit, two agreements on tourism cooperation and investment promotion. His Majesty will also meet with Speaker of the Greek Parliament Anna Psarouda-Benaki, economic figures and heads of Greek companies and industrial corporations with a view to discuss economic cooperation and encourage the private sector of both countries to establish joint investment projects. Their Majesties are accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, senators Ali Abul Ragheb and Faisal Al Fayez, Foreign Minister Abdul Ilah Al Khatib, Minister of Industry and Trade Sharif Al Zu'bi and Amman Mayor Nidal Al Hadid. //Petra// 211232 Local DEC 2005 http://www.petra.gov.jo/nepras/2005/Dec/21/29609600.htm

Humera

12-21-2005 11:42 AM

King Holds Talks With Greek President

Athena, Dec. 21 (Petra)-- His Majesty King Abdullah II on Wednesday held talks with President of Greece Karolos Papoulias focused on enhancing the bilateral relations as well as the International and regional issues of mutual concern. In a joint press conference after the meeting, His Majesty said the he and the Greek President have discussed ways of enhancing cooperation between the two countries and their joint vision towards finding just solutions for the regional issues.http://www.petra.gov.jo/nepras/2005/Dec/21/29620200.htm

Athens, Dec. 21 (Petra)-- Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, on Wednesday, inaugurated a scholarship program for Jordanian students at the Athens Information Technology (AIT) University, during a two-day working trip to the Greek capital with His Majesty King Abdullah. A Greek initiative aimed at fostering greater co-operation between Jordanian and Greek educational institutions, the program, due to begin in spring 2006, comprises fourteen graduate scholarships, known as the Queen Rania Al-Abdullah Scholarships, which will be set up exclusively for Jordanian students, for a period of five years, after which the program will be reviewed for extension.http://www.petra.gov.jo/nepras/2005/Dec/21/29620800.htm

Queen Rania looks gorgeous. Its been so long since I've seen her hair in an updo. I think she has worn this jacket before, during her trip to the US in September.

Athens, GREECE: Athens 'mayor Dora Bakoyianni (R) welcomes Jordan's King Abdullah II (L) and his wife Queen Rania (C) at the municipality of Athens, 21 December 2005. King Abdullah II and his wife are in Greece on a two-day working visit. AFP PHOTO LOUISA GOULIAMAKI

Humera

12-21-2005 05:13 PM

King receives Golden Medal of Athens

Athens/ Dec.21/(Petra)-- His Majesty King Abdullah II has commended the special friendship and unique historical bonds between the people of Greece and Jordan noting that the agreements the two countries have concluded on Wednesday would "bring us closer together in the years ahead." In his remarks at Athens Municipality and upon receiving the Golden Medal of Athens in presence of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah and the accompanying delegation, the King affirmed that "most of humanity's knowledge, culture, heritage, and even faith come from us together, the Levant and Greece." http://www.petra.gov.jo/nepras/2005/Dec/21/29622700.htm

Thnak you for the photos Humera. I'll haveto email my friends in Athens to see what the Greeks think of the Royal Couple!

Humera

12-21-2005 06:07 PM

Let me correct myself...QR didnt wear that blue jacket during her trip to the US in September. She wore a grey one with a similar neckline.
This blue jacket looks familiar to me because its part of the Fall 2005 Roland Mouret collection.

purple_platinum

12-22-2005 12:12 AM

3 Attachment(s)

the queen looks marvelous...

from DPA without watermark :
1. Queen Rania of Jordan (L) and the wife of Greek Prime Minister Natassa Karamanli (R) pose for photographers during their meeting in Athens , Thursday 22 December 2005. King Abdullah II and his wife , Rania are in Greece on a two-day working visit.

from DPA and belgapic :

2-3. Queen Rania of Jordan (L) is escorted by the wife of Greek Prime Minister Natasa Karamanlis during a walk through the streets of old Athens December 22, 2005. King Abdullah and his wife Rania are in Greece for a two-day working visit.

fanletizia

12-22-2005 10:32 AM

5 Attachment(s)

King Abdullah II with Greece's Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis at the premier's office in Athens Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005.
and
Queen Rania of Jordan (L) strolls through the streets in the old quarter of Athens, accompanied by the wife of Greek Prime Minister, Natassa Karamanlis (R), 22 December 2005

from polfoto, getty and anp

Humera

12-22-2005 01:10 PM

Thank you for the pictures fanletizia and purple platinum.
The Queen looks wonderful as usual but I'd have loved to see her wear more colour during this trip. Her fall wardrobe this year has been all black and grey (aside from the the black she wore after the Amman bombing)

purple_platinum

12-22-2005 01:15 PM

2 Attachment(s)

more of Queen Rania (from ANP)

Humera

12-22-2005 03:50 PM

Queen Rania visits the ELPIDA Guest House; tours ancient sites

In recognition of her humanitarian role and efforts globally, Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, on Thursday, received a warm welcome at the ELPIDA Guest House in Athens, an establishment of the Friends' Association for Children with Cancer, ELPIDA, as part of a two-day trip to the Greek capital with His Majesty King Abdullah. http://www.queenrania.jo/content/fro...re&itemID=1052

...Also on Thursday, Queen Rania, accompanied by the wife of the Greek Prime Minister, Mrs. Natasha Karamanlis, toured parts of the city and a number of tourist sites on foot, within the ancient district of Plaka, including the Monastiraki flea market, the ancient part of Agora and the Museum of Ancient Agora, in the Stoa of Attalos, looking at several monuments. Queen Rania concluded the tour with a visit to the Benaki Museum of Islamic Art... (excerpt from above article)

Queen Rania al-Abdullah of Jordan, who has accompanied the King Abdallah II on an official visit to Greece, was shown around many of the Greek capital's best known sites on Thursday by the prime minister's wife, Natasa Karamanlis.